Those following the restoration of Blackhill Quarry on Woodbury Common, part of the East Devon Pebblebed Heaths in the East Devon AONB, may be interested to read DCC’s latest monitoring report. According to the report:
Most of the materials stockpiled were sold by the end of 2017. There are some 17.5 thousand tonnes of 40mm rounds remaining which will be used in site restoration. 1.4
It is expected that all the earthworks will have been completed by the end of the summer as the dry weather has been very helpful in enabling works to be carried out efficiently. 1.7
The grazing is still carried out by a small herd of ponies owned by AI. There are ongoing issues with trespass around Seagull Pond [below] in particular. 1.8
Thorn Tree Plantation (shown below) was the last area to be quarried. We’ve previously questioned how well the restoration was progressing, and indeed – after nearly 10 years of trying to establish heathland – all is not well, according to the report:
Thorn Tree plantation is being managed by grazing but CDE is concerned about the amount of birch seedlings within the compartment. It was agreed at the site visit that these should be pulled, the site sprayed and once it was safe for grazing, the herd of cattle on Budleigh common could use this as a part of their grazing regime subject to cattle management/ movement requirements being met.
Something to bear in mind, when AI claims it can magically restore Straitgate Farm back to the best and most versatile agricultural land.
Restoration is also progressing in Area 6 (Silt Lagoon L3 - top photo), despite AI once claiming this could only be restored with the silt generated from Straitgate:
In the absence of this development [at Straitgate] the existing lagoon will remain as a deep, steep sided, angular lagoon, which is incongruous within the wider landscape setting of the AONB and Pebblebed Heaths.
Contrary to that fabrication, the report makes clear that:
This area is currently undergoing significant earthworks to achieve the revised restoration profile approved in December 2017… AI currently expect that these works will be completed by the end of summer 2018 and the site will be in aftercare by the next monitoring visit. There are sufficient topsoils stored along the top of the site to enable a thin spread of soils across this compartment.
The processing plant has now been completely removed from Area 12 (shown below), which we referred to in Why does quarrying have such a bad name? Take a look at Blackhill and is subject to a planning application by CDE:
The 2010 consent for retention of the plant, stockpiles and lagoons contains a specific condition that the area should be restored to heathland. The landowner is currently pursuing an alternative use for a part of this site with the District Council. Until this is resolved the MPA has agreed to postpone the final agreement on the whole area. Parts of the site are being restored and the plant has been removed and moved to Hillhead Quarry. The offices and weighbridge can be moved quickly and it is intended to store the weighbridge at Rockbeare and to retain the offices until such time as the concrete pad is removed.
